Charting the internet pop world one blog post at a time.

If you know DanceDanceRevolution then you definitely know Smile.dk! The Swedish group has been producing bouncy, infectious dance music since the 90’s, and really now there’s only one member remaining (singer Veronica Almqvist). Smile.dk became immensely popular in Japan which culminated with “Koko Soko” back in 2008. Now the song has received a bigger, sparkling ‘bubblegum house’ redux courtesy of Jamie Thompson and Dave Phaneuf of J-Mi and Midi-D Productions who have literally been living this song since back then, so who better to reignite it? It’s also available in an extended mix, a “Back to the 90’s” mix, and a frenetic “Panik” mix. If you loved The Vengaboys and Alice Deejay songs of yesteryear than you will immediately take to this feel good update of “Koko Soko”. Take a taste above and pick up the entire EP on iTunes.

A lot of the songs on the chart two weeks ago were stuck on hold… not a bad thing at all and shows staying power! But the new chart is shaken ‘n stirred but good, with only two debuts, but several favourites finish up their chart run at the lower end of the chart.

The Top 10

It appears that nothing is about to dislodge Years & Years and Brandyn Burnette from the top spots. “Shine” continues at #1, while former #1 “I Wanna Be (Free)” (which will soon have a hip hop flavoured remix) stays at #2. The songs in the rest of the year to come are going to need to be pretty special to beat out these two at year end. Oh, and next week I get to see Years & Years in concert in Toronto. Just cannot wait to hear the gorgeous songs on Communion in live performance!

Both Nathan Sykes’ “Kiss Me Quick” and “Show Me The Way” by Penguin Prison advance a notch to #3 and #4 respectively, but are the #1 and #2 songs going to keep them from moving up further? You’ll find out in two weeks! Again, both are very strong songs in 2015 against fierce competition.

Formidable NYC producer/DJ’s The Chainsmokers are touring (they play in Toronto on November 7) with a fun cast of performers depending on what city you’re in. The guys’ collab with Great Good Fine OK in a rollicking Tiesto remix on “Let You Go” climbs 9 to 6. Oh, and it’s a free download 🙂

Yeah it is all about that sample from the 60’s TV show The Munsters, but “Uma Thurman” by Fall Out Boy also has a wicked, fun vocal by Patrick Stump to carry it home. The song rises 11 to 8.

I have my fingers crossed that Island Records will recognize the emotional power of the fastest riser on the chart this week and release it to radio and as a single. The gorgeous heartbreak of “Pain Told Love” by Tribe Society (formerly Gentlemen Hall) featuring a stunning turn by Kiesza burns up the chart, soaring 25-9.

Movin’ On Up

It’s still a mystery to me why “The Other Boys” by NERVO featuring Kylie Minogue, Jake Shears, and Nile Rodgers isn’t all over the dance clubs. It’s a smash waiting to happen no matter how long it takes! It climbs 20-11!

Eric Saade’s “Girl From Sweden” and Janet Jackson’s “No Sleeep” have been unlikely bookend for the past few weeks, and it continues as they both rise to #12 and #13 respectively. Janet plays in Toronto on September 15 and I look forward to hearing more from her upcoming Unbreakable album!

With The Weeknd’s superlative Beauty Behind The Madness set to debut at #1 this week, it’s fitting that “Can’t Feel My Face” climbs 22-14, eventhough it’s been #1 everywhere. Abel (who is from my part of Toronto) is unstoppable right now!

“Natural Disaster” by Molly Moore is one true grower, many folks that I’ve played it for have enjoyed it or asked about it, in its original form or delightful Win & Woo remix. The song moves up 19-15.

It’s taking its time to breakout, but I feel that about to happen… the title song from Robin Schulz’s album Sugar, featuring my talented fellow Canuck Francesco Yates, advances 23-16 (Francesco’s own “Better To Be Loved” peaked out at #6 two weeks ago).

Nerds, ravers, and dance music lovers unite and support this quirky and fun song! Quebec producer/DJ’s J-Mi and Midi-D move up 21-17 with their Avril Lavigne-meets-Vengaboys single “So Much For That”.

And speaking once again about NYC R&B/pop/dance act Great Good Fine OK, they play in my city at The Drake Hotel once again on September 10, and undoubtedly will perform “Something To Believe In”, their recorded duet with fellow dance act St. Lucia. From the EP 2M2H, the song climbs 26-19.

Premiering

It’s his best single yet, and is culled from his freshly released debut album Yesterday. British Columbian Tyler Shaw has a real winner with the zippy “Dizzy”, which arrives at #21. Not to be underestimated, this one! Tyler’s album release party takes place in Toronto on September 10 at the Virgin Mobile Mod Club.

Matthew Koma has blended the best of both of his worlds – EDM and pop with a punk attitude – on his humorous latest solo single “So F**kin’ Romantic”, which bows at #24. Matthew is a most welcome veteran on my chart – “Romantic” is his 4th solo entry (including two #1’s “Parachute” and “1998”) and he also is featured on 4 others (including #1’s “Spectrum” with Zedd and “Cannonball Earthquake” with Showtek & Justin Prime). Now he needs to play his own gig in Toronto – soon! 😀

The Full Chart

Listen to the songs or watch the videos using the links on the pictures on the pretty and detailed web edition of my chart. Go on, have a look and listen/watch 🙂

You can hear me online onhttp://www.planetradio.ca every Monday at 10:00 pm EST counting down a Toronto Top 10 chart from yesteryear!

This week’s new chart sees one of my most favourite songs of 2015 yielding to another. Either way, both songs have a lock on the Top 2. And strangely enough many songs stay still – probably because I can’t get enough of them, as well as the songs above them on the chart, which also explains why there is so much activity in the Top 10. There are no bad songs ever on this chart. Even if a song lands on the chart for one appearance at #30, I still enjoy will enjoy it evermore 🙂 So on to the new chart…

The Top 10

Years & Years score their second #1 with the brilliant “Shine” from the album that is currently stuck in my head, Communion. Their September 14 Toronto show cannot come soon enough, I’m itching to hear all of what they have to offer in concert. Watch the excellent video above.

Brandyn Burnette’s EP Made of Dreams is coming soon, but “I Wanna Be (Free)” is one of my most played songs right now, and has left #1 after 4 appearances (8 weeks). It is really in an ongoing battle with “Shine” for the top.

“Guilty As Sin” by Dan Talevski has a lot of immediate competition to face below, but still hangs on to #3 for another chart. I write about Dan’s new song “My Religion” the other day and the intriguing and sexy video has also landed at the top of the Music page at http://www.much.com.

In just about any other year, the very hot “Kiss Me Quick” by Nathan Sykes would be at the top of my chart, but currently advances 6-4.

Also new to the Top 5, but no surprise, is “Show Me The Way” by Penguin Prison from the sophomore album Lost In New York. The last time PP was in the Top 5 was three years ago as featured in RAC’s “Hollywood”.

Francesco Yates’ debut EP, featuring production and co-writes with Pharrell Williams, is due September 11, also featuring new Canadian single “Call” and another new song “Honey I’m Home” (also below – you can get it instantly when ordering the EP on iTunes). In the meantime, the well-served “Better To Be Loved” climbs 9-6, and Francesco also features in another song on the chart.

“Take Out Of Me” is a soulful slice of energetic R&B Britpop by Martin Luke Brown, and it moves up 11-8.

The fastest riser on the chart is the propulsive club-banging Tiesto remix of “Let You Go” by NYC’s The Chainsmokers, featuring fellow NYCers Great Good Fine OK, vaulting 22-9. The Chainsmokers have launched a new tour which will hit Toronto on November 7, featuring many special guests. Great Good Fine OK also debuts on this chart with one of their own songs!

The last new Top 10 entry belongs to L.A.-based producer Mi Disguise with his unique east side/west side story for dance clubs, “East Side Bay”, up 12-10.

Movin’ On Up

Slinking up the chart is “Uma Thurman” by Fall Out Boy (14-11), which is definitely a grower that will stick with you, and that riff from “The Munsters” TV show is a hoot.

Despite a lot of the songs in holding below, “Walking Through The Fire” by Cobi Mike climbs a notch up to #12, while his fellow former members of Gentlemen Hall also debut with their new band name.

It’s only a very temporary thing when you see the songs by Eric Saade, Janet, Trevor Guthrie, Molly Moore, and J-Mi & Midi-D all holding steady, but it’s also a very good thing! We’ll see who continues to advance in two weeks.

Meanwhile, NERVO’s “The Other Boys” gets stuck as well, moving up 23-20, so look for their guest-filled collaboration – with Kylie Minogue, Scissor Sisters’ Jake Shears, and Nile Rodgers – to get un-stuck in two weeks.

Both Robin Schulz & Francesco Yates’ “Sugar” and Disclosure & Sam Smith’s “Omen” advance four positions to #23 and #24 – seems like a small start, but watch the chart in two weeks to see what might happen!

Debuts

Watch for great things from these debuts in the coming weeks!

I’m not quite sure why Island Records hasn’t dove into this song as a single release, so perhaps it’s a matter of time. But “Pain Told Love” is the emotional centrepiece and standout on Tribe Society’s debut EP Lucid Dreams, and has Kiesza no less on featured vocal. The rest of the former Gentlemen Hall have a winner here and it bows at #25. As the song’s lyrics sink in, expect to find yourself reaching for a tissue every now and then!

Arriving at #26 is “Something To Believe In” by Great Good Fine OK from their EP 2M2H (‘too much to handle’ – also a song on the EP). The song also features the Brooklyn-based (but South Africa born) electronica performer St. Lucia (who is also due for a new record of his own!). It’s a fine blend of voices and style, the key song on the EP.

The last debut marks the third appearance on the chart for the actress, and also singer, Jane Badler. The original version is from last year’s album Opus (also featuring “Losing You”), but producer/DJ Eel Eye has sparkled up “Dead Eyes” with some early 90’s dance club flavour, which enhances the sinewy, mysterious lyric of the song. “Dead Eyes” premieres at #28.

The Full Chart

Listen to the songs or watch the videos using the links on the pictures on the pretty and detailed web edition of my chart. Go on, have a look and listen/watch 🙂

You can hear me online onhttp://www.planetradio.ca every Monday at 10:00 pm EST counting down a Toronto Top 10 chart from yesteryear!

The amount of posts I write seems to have slowed down, but I do make them count 🙂 And my chart brings some of them full circle and also introduces you to some songs I adore that I haven’t written about (usually major name performers). So the new chart has five debuts – don’t let the lower chart position belie how well these five will do in the coming weeks 🙂 As usual, current faves have to give up the ghost first!

The Top 10

What more can I possibly say about Brandyn Burnette’s “I Wanna Be (Free)”? How about a fourth appearance (eighth week) at #1! Just in time for the remix by The Bravos which I wrote about recently. It’s going to be very hard to beat the Top 2 songs in this chart at year end!

And then there’s “Shine” by UK trio Years & Years. I can’t understand why radio will not play this one in North America. There’s a really powerful emotional undercurrent to “Shine”, which didn’t sink in until well after I stopped hearing it with one ear on a similar-sounding melody to Erik Hassle’s “No Words”. It holds at #2 again, but “Shine” is looking to take over from “I Wanna Be (Free)” whenever that song surrenders #1.

It does have an ‘earworm’ of a chorus as my friend David kindly put it. Toronto’s Dan Talevski has released a follow up called “My Religion” which I have not heard yet (but will in the next while undoubtedly), probably because I’m too wrapped up in “Guilty As Sin”, which rises to #3 for the talented singer.

I get the feeling of triumph every time I hear “Beauty Never Lies” by Serbia’s Bojana Stamenov. The Eurovision finalist climbs up to #5 to anchor the Top 10 midway point 🙂

There is no doubt that “Kiss Me Quick” by Nathan Sykes (which climbs to #1 on Billboard’s Dance Club Play chart this week) has its druthers aimed for the top spot on this chart, and for now it bounds 12-6 while the UK singer continues to promote the song throughout the US.

Toronto quartet Smashing Satellites follow up their #3 chart hit “Waterfall” with the very different and ebullient “What It’s All About”, which has taken its time but lands at #8.

Rounding out the trio of Torontonians in the Top 10 is star-on-the-rise singer/songwriter/guitarist Francesco Yates with “Better To Be Loved” at #9. Francesco sings on one of the debuts too!

The fastest riser on the chart belongs to Penguin Prison with the effortless-sounding and breezy “Show Me The Way”, soaring 22-10, and the Top 10 is no stranger to PP who have cracked #1 twice before. In the US, you can catch “Show Me The Way” in the latest Hulu ad 🙂 Not yet a single, but soon-to-be… I hope… pretty please…

Movin’ On Up

I can’t get enough of UK singer Martin Luke Brown’s vocal on “Take Out Of Me”. This searing piece of soulful pop rises 19-11.

Another unique vocal appears in “East Side Bay” by L.A.-based producer/DJ – and yes vocalist – Mi Disguise. This is one sneaky club track that deserves exposure, and climbs 15-12.

Amid fierce competition, Cobi Mike’s thoughtful and affecting “Walking Through The Fire” continues to move up 14-13 – check out the intriguing video (you’ll get past the point that the singer is naked throughout, really, you will).

When in doubt gain brownie points by using your country in your latest song title 😉 Seriously, “Girl From Sweden” by Eric Saade is a catchy singalong, and I’m sure you’ll find the singer dancing in the Swedish countryside one day with pretty girls in hand 😉 The song rises 18-15.

Performers who collaborate with their significant others often make fine music together. Such is the case with Molly Moore, whose “Natural Disaster” climbs 25-19 (Brandyn Burnette is a co-writer). I wrote about another top notch song by Molly not long ago called “Don’t Believe It”, which saw official release on iTunes last week. Much more new music to come!

Canadians J-Mi and Midi-D are off to a great start with their recent single “So Much For That”. Not only is it loads of fun, with its 90’s Europop backdrop, but these underdogs, remixers and ravers alike, have created a song that absolutely anyone can identify with. The video is a hoot and the nerd in us all will appreciate it. “So Much For That” climbs 26-21.

Those 5 Debuts

I must admit to have been totally blown away by the collaboration of New York producer/DJ’s The Chainsmokers with fellow New Yorkers Great Good Fine OK on “Let You Go”. But the song IMO has been immensely improved with a throttling Tiesto remix which is available for free download on Soundcloud!! “Let You Go” is the highest debut, arriving at #22.

It was a fine few weeks for dance music and NERVO land their first chart entry with “The Other Boys” at #23 from their new album Collateral. The powerful mix plus Kylie Minogue and Jake Shears on vocals, carried by propulsive guitar work by Nile Rodgers should send this to the top of the national dance charts in short order. I wish that pop radio would be open to playing it but alas I expect not.

The Weeknd doesn’t need my blog’s help with all of his success, to be seen in December come Grammy Awards nomination time. His latest single, “I Can’t Feel My Face”, from the upcoming Beauty Behind The Madness (which I predict will be the #1 album of 2015), arrives at #25. Despite all of his obvious influences, The Weeknd makes every song his own and that’s part of his appeal! That he comes from my part of Toronto speaks volumes too 😀

Meanwhile, back to Francesco Yates… who sings lead on the latest single from Grammy nominee Robin Schulz on “Sugar”, the title song from Robin’s upcoming album. The inclusion of lyrics from Baby Bash & Frankie J’s “Suga Suga” is a bonus, but kind of interesting in a roundabout way when you think that Francesco himself (who is 19) was a mere lad when the original came out in 2003. “Sugar” premieres at #27 and the video is quite slaptsticky-funny if you suspend your disbelief.

The final debut belongs to Disclosure featuring Sam Smith once again on “Omen”. This trio must get into a room and just know when they’ve written a hit. Although “Latch” did take a while to catch on in North America (eventually climbing to #1 on this chart), “Omen” arrives signed and sealed for success. It debuts at #28 and comes from Disclosure’s forthcoming album Caracal.

The Full Chart

Listen to the songs or watch the videos using the links on the pictures on the pretty and detailedweb edition of my chart. Go on, have a look and listen/watch 🙂

You can hear me online on http://www.planetradio.ca every Monday at 10:00 pm EST counting down a Toronto Top 10 chart from yesteryear!

There’s lots of movement within the Top 10, and four new entries, three by chart newcomers!

The Top 10

Brandyn Burnette once again reigns at #1 with the joyous and heartfelt “I Wanna Be (Free)”. It’s my go-to song on my iPod right now! Good news for Brandyn fans – the powerful “Stand Down (2150 AD)” will be his follow up single, due for release on August 4, from the upcoming EP Made Of Dreams.

If not for “I Wanna Be (Free)”, “Shine” by Years & Years would be at #1, but must settle for #2, perhaps only for now, we’ll see. The trio’s entire Communion album is fantastic, also watch “Foundation” below.

Antonio Giacca’s unusually addictive “Sensation” is one dance song you shouldn’t miss. It climbs up 5-3.

Like with Years & Years, Adam Lambert’s The Original High is one of my favourite albums of 2015. I have many choices as to what will follow “Ghost Town” on to the chart in the coming weeks, but for now the song moves up 6-4. Who wants a solo tour from Adam?? 🙂

Another song on a high is Dan Talevski’s “Guilty As Sin”, which soars 8-5. The Toronto singer recorded the video for his next single “My Religion” in Spain these past few weeks. Can’t wait to see what’s in store for us. “My Religion” arrives July 31.

“Beauty Never Lies” continues to make its presence known on my chart! As sung by Serbia’s Bojana Stamenov, the song advances 10-7.

UK quartet Lawson obtains yet another Top 10 entry with their latest single “Roads” at #10. The band has just begun its U.S. tour opening for Australia’s Sheppard.

Movin’ On Up

Nathan Sykes managed to take over Times Square in New York City this week for a video shoot. I’m glad to see his spry song “Kiss Me Quick” is getting so much attention. It’s the fastest riser on my chart this week, vaulting 20-12!!

In case you missed it, Canadian singer Francesco Yates is the featured vocalist on Robin Schulz’s excellent new single “Sugar” (below). In the meantime, Francesco’s “Better To Be Loved” (above) climbs 16-13. Yesterday in concert in Toronto, he dropped some songs (including a few written with Pharrell) that are going to pop big time!

“Walking Through The Fire” by Cobi Mike rises 17-14. It’s accompanied by a compelling and thought-provoking video too.

L.A. based producer Mi Disguise is recording more music for his album which will be on its way this Fall. Do check out his unique EDM single “East Side Bay” which climbs 19-15.

You want to dance like “Uma Thurman” too, don’t you? 😛 The fun single by Fall Out Boy continues to advance, with that surfin’ groove from the 60’s TV show “The Munsters” used to great effect. It moves up 21-16.

Janet Jackson fans are soaking in her first single in 7 years in advance of her tour and the Unbreakable album. The sexy quiet storm ballad “No Sleeep” rises 25-20.

The good-natured and energetic “Summertime” by Vancouver’s Trevor Guthrie is well on its way, climbing 27-21.

The New Stuff

It was released last March but one of the reasons my chart is here is to bring you new found talent that I enjoy. And such is “Take Out Of Me” by UK singer Martin Luke Brown, which is certain to grab your ears from above just like it did me. It bows on the chart at an impressive #19. Also take a look at the video below for the emotional follow-up single “Scars On Scars”. Think Mikky Ekko meets Sam Smith!

Penguin Prison’s concert in Toronto a few weeks back reinforced that “Show Me The Way” is my favourite new song from his new album Lost in New York, bowing at #22 on my chart. The crowd reacted to it most favourably on the dance floor – as much as Penguin’s encore cover of Lionel Richie’s “All Night Long”. It’s Penguin Prison’s 10th chart entry summarized as follows: 🙂

Something I’m Not, #2, 2010

The Worse It Gets, #1, 2010

Golden Train, #1, 2010

Multi-Millionaire, #7, 2011

Fair Warning, #6, 2011

Don’t Fuck With My Money, #3, 2011

Hollywood (with RAC), #5, 2012

Hang On To Your Love, #19, 2014

Calling Out, #13, 2015

I’ve already written about L.A.-based singer Molly Moore a number of times this year. But I’m pleased to say that her song that I wrote about back at the top of 2015has now received official release. “Natural Disaster” (co-written with her guy, Brandyn Burnette) is a winner both in its original and laid back, tropical Win & Woo remix, and arrives on the chart at #25!

Canadian producers/remixers (as well as ravers and gamers) J-Mi and Midi-D debut at #26 with their move-on-let’s-party anthem “So Much For That”, which I wrote about on its day of release last week. Check it out for a lot of 90’s Swedish dance-pop inspiration!

The Full Chart

Listen to the songs or watch the videos using the links on the pictures on the pretty and detailed web edition of my chart. Go on, have a look and listen/watch 🙂

Following up their #3 Billboard Dance Club Play remix success on Rozalla’s “If You Say It Again” and their 2013 single “Hardcore (Is My Life)”, Sherbrooke, Quebec EDM producers J-Mi and Midi-D are back with your end of summer rave-up, “So Much For That”. What’s different here for the duo (best friends, not a couple!), Jamie Thompson and Dave Phaneuf, is that the vocals here this time are by Jamie! She aptly described it to me a few weeks back as Avril Lavigne meets The Vengaboys, which is what might happen when Canadian talent goes to Sweden and writes a song with the noted Michael Saxell (Bachman Turner, Jeff Beck, Keith Reid of Procol Harum, and many more). Take a wistful and sincere vocal, such as in Avril’s”I’m With You”, and think of it as a mere lead-in to a blast of bouncy Swedish Europop. Combine it with identifiable lyrics that encourage you to put your bad day/summer relationship behind you, and then just let go and party away! “So Much For That” is a splendid change of pace for these self-proclaimed ‘galactic ravers’ who have also scored music for DanceDanceRevolution and other projects, combining their passion for music with gaming. The energy here is pretty contagious from a genuine pair of music nerds who know their stuff. The music video for “So Much For That” is fun and lovably awkward and will make you smile. Give it a watch and pick up “So Much For That” on iTunes (featuring both an Extended and Karaoke version for your singing pleasure!).